Mission Possible: Big Win On the Water
Tevin Togami, Staff Writer
November 4, 2009
Filed under Kayaking, Photos, Sports, Sports Center, Top Stories
This year is certainly a memorable and unforgettable one for all of Le Jardin Academy as the 2009-2010 kayaking team has solidified their place in Le Jardin Academy’s sports history. On Halloween, before trick-o-treating, the boys’ JV and Varsity kayaking team competed against the best in the ILH division one championship, and came out on top! This is the first sports team in Le Jardin’s history to ever win a Varsity division one title. Taylor Hopkins, Derek Rubenstahl, Rinchen Harrison, Joey Kiser, Ted Marr, Kenny Rupnow, Mike Dowsett and Sean Lambert all contributed to the success of the varsity kayaking team.
Le Jardin competed with schools such as Kamehameha, Iolani, Mid Pac and Punahou. The Varsity team was lead by all star kayakers, Taylor Hopkins and Derek Rubenstahl. Individually, Taylor Hopkins finished in 2ndplace and Derek Rubenstahl finished in 5th place. Head coach, Kathy Irwin, accredits most of the team’s success to the fact that we have a small school, saying “We have all the kids on the water all the time, and the bigger schools have way more kids and it’s hard for them to put all the kids in water at the same time and supervise them.” 
All three coaches, Kathy Irwin, Brandon Woods and Erik Anderson, attended Le Jardin Academy (but did not graduate because of the lack of a high school division). Last year all players on the varsity team won the JV ILH title. The future looks bright for the kayaking team as no players will be lost to graduation. So expectations will be high for the 2010-2011 Kayaking Bulldogs! The LJA ohana would like to say congratulations to the kayaking team on their big win this year and wish them good luck in defending their title next year!
Varsity Boys
Taylor Hopkins
Derek Rubenstahl
Rinchen Harrison
Joey Kiser
Ted Marr
Kenny Rupnow
Mike Dowsett
Sean Lambert
JV Boys
Ted Marr -
Kenny Rupnow
Tanner Gillespie
Coburn Hopkins
Logan Spencer
Nick Whitcomb
Keoni Monahan
Michael Jenkins
Girls Team
Lauren Caspers
Mahina Kahalewale
Murielle Rodrigue
Alessandra Rodrigues
Jessica Juselis
Jade Nguyen
Development Team
Camron Miscovich
Anna Dunham
Jordan Gonzales
Coaching Staff
Brandon Woods
Kati Erwin
Erik Anderson
Kathy Erwin
Hello, this is Derek Ruebenstahl.
I’d like to point out that Taylor Hopkins received 2nd in the Distance portion of Champs and I received 2nd in the Sprint portion of champs. (Not 5th)
Each kayaker may only choose one race; Distance or Sprint.
Also we will be loosing Lauren Caspers to graduation. She is the teams friendliest and hardest working kayaker, making her loss a great one.
[Reply]
Awesome post! It really isn’t the best thing that we are loosing Lauren next year. But this was a great year in Kayaking and I am glad to say that we will work hard and KILL next year!! I also think that it is good that we had people in development so that they will be able to get a head start for what they will be up against next year!
[Reply]